BOOK 47 OF 66 · PAULINE EPISTLES · KING JAMES BIBLE

2 Corinthians 10

2 Corinthians book home•Chapter 10 of 13•18 verses

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2 Corinthians 10 Overview

Paul answers critics who accuse him of being bold in letters but weak in person. He explains that Christian warfare is not carnal; spiritual weapons pull down strongholds, imaginations, and thoughts that oppose the knowledge of God. He refuses self-commendation and insists that true approval comes from the Lord.

2 CorinthiansBook

10Chapter

18Verses

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Before you read 2 Corinthians 10

Coming from

Paul continues preparation for the collection, urging the Corinthians to give as previously purposed rather than under pressure. He uses sowing and reaping to describe generous giving, insists that God loves a cheerful giver, and says supplied resources enable further good works and thanksgiving to God.

In this chapter

Leads into

Paul fears the Corinthians may be corrupted from simple devotion to Christ, just as Eve was deceived. He warns about another Jesus, another spirit, and another gospel, exposes false apostles who transform themselves as ministers of righteousness, and reluctantly recounts his own sufferings to show how unlike worldly boasting true apostolic ministry can look.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The ‘weapons of our warfare’ primarily concern truth confronting proud arguments and disobedient thought, not a secret technique for controlling demons or other people.

Paul defends genuine apostolic authority while rejecting boastful comparison based on self-made standards.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Christian warfare is fought with spiritual rather than fleshly means

Truth and obedience address strongholds of thought.

Authority should build rather than destroy believers

Paul says the Lord gave authority for edification.

Self-comparison distorts ministry

The approved servant is the one whom the Lord commends.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Ephesians 6:10–18

Paul later describes the believer’s spiritual armor and warfare.

Jeremiah 9:23–24

Boasting should be in the Lord rather than human status.

1 Corinthians 4:1–5

Paul earlier rejected premature human commendation and emphasized the Lord’s judgment.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not use ‘casting down imaginations’ as a mandate to dominate another person’s mind

The passage addresses arguments and thoughts raised against God’s knowledge.

Do not equate loudness or aggression with spiritual authority

Paul’s authority is Christ-given and aimed at edification.

Do not make self-measured success the standard

Paul rejects comparing and commending oneself; the Lord’s commendation is what finally matters.

Read 2 Corinthians 10 watching for…

The contrast between walking in flesh and warring after flesh.

What the weapons target.

Paul’s response to accusations about his presence.

The limits of his God-given sphere.

Who ultimately commends a servant.

Chapter outline3 sections

1-6Paul appeals by Christ’s meekness and says spiritual weapons are mighty through God 7-12Paul warns against judging by outward appearance and refuses to measure himself by self-commending men 13-18Paul will boast only within the measure God assigned and says the Lord’s commendation matters

Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:

But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.

For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:

That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.

For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.

For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.

For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:

Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,

To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.

But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

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2 Corinthians 10:17

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